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Decoding the Dhanurveda Samhita: A Hermeneutic Study of Martial Methodologies and Weapon Technology in Classical India
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Abstract
The Dhanurveda Samhita is one of the most comprehensive martial knowledge systems in classical India, and is considered an Upaveda of the Yajurveda.Traditionally attributed to sage Bharata, it is cited in the Mahabharata and Arthashastra, and is a blend of weapon technology, combat methodology, tactical organization, and philosophical principles of warfare. Though of historical importance, the Dhanurveda has not received much study in modern scholarship. The hermeneutic methodologies are used in this study to decode the Dhanurveda Samhita, and place it in its historical, cultural, and epistemological context. The study is based on primary textual sources, archaeological evidence, and comparative analysis with the military knowledge system of Eurasia, and shows that the Dhanurveda is not just a martial manual but a multi-dimensional knowledge system. The results reveal that it is rooted in empirical knowledge from material science, as well as in battlefield experience, and is oriented towards defensive and tactical knowledge, which is also integrated into cosmological and ethical knowledge. The implications highlight the relevance of the Dhanurveda as a model of systems thinking, interdisciplinary teaching, resilience training, and ethical leadership. This paper validates the significance of the text in the intellectual heritage of India and its relevance to current education and leadership development.
Keywords: Dhanurveda Samhita, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Hermeneutics, Weapon Technology, Military Pedagogy, Archery, Systems Thinking, Indian Epistemology, Resilience, Ethical Leadership
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